James f



(No Model!) I 1 J. F. MGLAUGHLIN.

ELECTRICAL RAILWAY.

No. 332,926. Patented Dec. 22, 1885.

eizei'aZoi INVENTOR,

W ATTORNEY" N. PETERS. Pholn-Lilho n her, Washington. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. MGLAUGHLIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM,

(LIMITED,) OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRICAL RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,926, dated December 22, 1885. Application filed January 12,1885. Serial No. 152,613. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. MOLAUGHLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented 5 certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Railways, of which the following is aconductors; and this object I attain in they manner hereinafter fully described.

The view in the accompanying drawing is a transverse section of part of a car and roadway embodying my improvements.

A is the body of the car, mounted on wheels adapted to travel on the ordinary tracks, 0, 20 which may be laid on suitable stringers, c,

with transverse sleepers c, the stringers being united, if desired, by braces c". The electrical conductors are carried by a rail, D, arranged centrally between the car-tracks and bolted to 25 the sleepers c. The rail D is shown as consisting of a central web, d, provided with longitudinal grooves 01 for the reception of the conductors E, where the rail itself is of insulating material; but where the rail D is of 1 0 metal, strips e, of insulating material, are inserted in the grooves thereof, and the conductors E secured to these insulating strips, as illustrated in the drawing. The web 01 of the rail D carries a top piece, d, which may form 3 5 the upper part thereof, or be seen red thereto, this top piece having overhanging edges d1, to protect the conductors E. To the under side of the car is secured a bracket, 1, and to the latter are pivoted levers F F, carrying contact 0 wheels or brushes f, which normally are adapted to make contact with the conductors E, the

' roadway on each side of the railD being open at I for. the free passage of the lower ends of the levers F, and thus forming practically two conduits on opposite sides of the rail D. The levers F are provided with suitable handles, f, of insulating material, or insulated from the lower parts of the said levers. These arms pass up through a slot or slots in the bottom of the car, and are provided near their upper ends with spring -pawls f*,'engaging with curved racks or ratchets G G, secured to the car, so that when these levers are pulled over in directions opposite to those pointed out by the arrows the brushes or Wheels fare brought into contact with the conductors E, and the pawlsf* then engaging with the racks G, lock the levers F, so as to maintain the said brushes or wheels in close traveling contact with said conductors. By releasing the pawls and moving the levers, or either of them. as indicated by the arrows, the brushes or wheels may be removed from contact with the conductors. The lower metallic parts of the levers F are connected by suitable conductors to the poles of the motor B, carried by the car, which m0- tor may be suitably geared to one of the axles of the car.

The openings I, forming the conduits on opposite sides of the central rail, D, may be pro- 70 vided at intervals with inclined gutters H, to carry off the water, &c., collecting therein.

I claim as my invention-- The combination of a rail carrying insulated conductors on its opposite sides with an elec- 5 tric railway-car having two levers, F F, pivoted to the car and carrying at their lower ends contacts for the said conductors and at their upper ends spring-pawls, and curved racks G G on the car, with which the pawls 8o engage, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. MOL AUGHLIN.

Witnesses:

S. J. ,VAN STAVOREN, CHAS. F. VAN HORN. 

